Paloozin’ away

A total of 18 bands took the stage at the second annual Yale-a-Palooza music festival Sunday afternoon. And despite the gray skies and chilly fall air, about 70 Yalies gathered on Old Campus to listen to their classmates’ musical performances.

The event, which took place in front of Durfee Hall, was organized by Yale’s radio station WYBC, and the Yale Student Activities Committee supported the cause by providing free cotton candy and popcorn to music-lovers.

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WYBC General Manager and creator of Yale-a-Palooza Jordan Malter ’09 said the concert was an opportunity to showcase Yale’s many bands in a non-competitive setting. “People are really talented here at Yale,” Malter said. “They should be able to play in more than just their residential college practice rooms.”

Huddled in small clusters on the green tarpaulin the organizers had laid out on the grass, students listened to the festivals’ numerous and varied performers. Musical styles ranged from rock to solo keyboard pieces to jazzy instrumentals, and the audience members banged their heads, swayed in time and tapped their feet as appropriate.

As some students sat around doing reading assignments for their urban development classes and talking to friends about what happened Saturday night, the topics of the artists’ songs changed from the ever-present theme of love, to vomit and then to everyday life.

“Do any of you wear contact lenses?” asked performer Daniel Carvalho ’10, a staff photographer for the News, to a raising of hands. “Good, so you know how hard it is.”

The favorite by far, however, seemed to be Richard Miron ’12. As he took the stage with his guitar, all those who had been lying on the tarpaulin stood up and crowded around the stage.

“This was my first time performing at Yale,” he said, “but I performed a lot back home in Atlanta.”

After the show, he said he was pleased with his performance.

Other artists were a bit more nervous.

“I don’t know what the hell kind of music I am or if people will like me,” Laura Wellman ’12 said just before going on stage.

Many of the attendees and performers said they thought the event, which showcased the talents of their friends, was a great idea. “It’s always nice to have live music at Yale,” “There is not enough of it,” Joyce Arnold ’10 said.

The only dark cloud on the audience’s mind was the weather.

“I’m surprised at how few people came” said attendee Alexsis Johnson ’12, but she later attributed the low turnout to the cold temperature and the dark clouds threatening rain.

The weather held out for the most part, though, and the show continued, with an increasing number of attendees as the day went on.

But at least a few students passing through Old Campus yesterday were nonplussed.

“Are they going to be here all day?” Farnam resident Taneja Young ’12 asked. “I’m going to have to go to the library. I can’t study like this.”

For those who stuck it out, the event provided an opportunity for students to experience music that had, until yesterday, been confined to practice rooms.

Performer Farah Al-Qasimi ’12 said she was glad so much of Yale’s “hidden musical talent” was showcased yesterday. She said she hopes that other open-mic events will happen in the future.

According to those in attendance, though, a move indoors would be well appreciated.